I set out to catch 20 different species on a fly rod in 2018. Although I fell short of the goal, the fly rod species list was probably more of a success than a failure. It was a little distracting at times, but it got me out on some new waters, and to some degree reunited me with fly fishing. A new year is upon us, and I’m wondering whether I should take another crack at it.
Where “The 2018 Fly Fishing List” ended – just one species shy of the goal:
- Brown Trout – Salmo trutta
- Brook Trout – Salvelinus fontinalis
- Rainbow Trout – Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon – Salmo salar
- Creek Chub – Semotilus atromaculatus
- Northern Pike – Esox lucius
- Largemouth Bass – Micropterus salmoides
- Chain Pickerel – Esox niger
- Black Crappie – Poxomis nigromaculatis
- Bluegill – Lepomis macrochirus
- Bowfin – Amia calva
- Pumpkinseed – Lepomis gibbosus
- Common Shiner – Luxilus cornutus
- Redbreast Sunfish – Lepomis auritus
- Rock Bass – Ambloplites rupestris
- Green Sunfish – Lepomis cyanellus
- Smallmouth Bass – Micropterus dolomieu
- Blacknose Dace – Rhinichthys obtusus
- Kokanee Salmon – Oncorhynchus nerka
Not bad, but I can’t help think of a few species I could have or should have caught on the fly last year. OK – I just decided now. I am going to take another crack at breaking the 20 species barrier. Check in for updates here on the website in the coming weeks.